Brandin Podziemski thanks the Warriors for a daring contract extension

When Brandin Podziemski walked onto the floor of the Warriors’ practice facility last week, he wasn’t just carrying a basketball – he was carrying a heavy dose of gratitude. The rookie guard, fresh off a solid preseason showing, had just learned that the franchise was locking him in with a five‑year, $110 million extension.

“I can’t thank the organization enough,” Podziemski said, a grin slipping into his voice. “They took a real leap with faith in me, and that means everything.” The words felt honest, almost a little raw, as if the magnitude of the contract – the biggest rookie deal the Warriors have ever handed out – finally sank in.

It wasn’t just the money that sparked his reaction. Podziemski spoke about the confidence shown by head coach Steve Kerr and veteran leaders like Stephen Curry. “When Steve pulls you aside and says ‘we believe in you,’ it’s different than a paycheck. It’s personal.” He added that the mentorship he’s receiving every day in Oakland is the real catalyst that will help him turn that gamble into a payoff for both sides.

Podziemski’s path to this moment has been anything but smooth. Drafted in the second round, he spent his rookie year shuttling between the G‑League and the bench, learning the Warriors’ motion offense at a snail’s pace. Yet his work ethic never wavered. In the latest preseason game against the Lakers, he logged a double‑double, showing the pieces are finally clicking.

Now, with the extension secured, Podziemski is looking ahead. He wants to be the guard who can stretch the floor, create for Steph, and, when the moment calls, knock down his own clutch shots. “I’m just trying to soak it all in, keep grinding, and make the most of the chance they gave me,” he said, eyes bright.

For Golden State, the gamble could pay off big. The franchise has a history of betting on young talent – think Klay Thompson and Draymond Green – and the belief is that Podziemski could become another piece of that puzzle. As the preseason winds down, the buzz is real: if the rookie lives up to his own promise, the Warriors’ “leap of faith” might just be the next chapter in their championship story.